BAE, EADS in merger talks to create aerospace giant

By Paul Sandle and Rhys Jones – Britain’s BAE Systems and Airbus-owner EADS are in advanced merger talks to create a combined group worth US$48-billion, overtaking Boeing as the world’s biggest aerospace and defence company in terms of sales.

“On the face of it this will create one of the largest aerospace and defense organizations on the planet, depending on how much they have to spin out to get this past regulators,” said Guy Anderson, Senior Principal Analyst, IHSJane’s Defence Industry.